NASA Explores How to Conduct Science Experiments at Edge of Space

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., (NASA) — NASA scientists, academic researchers and potential future space flight service providers will discuss new ways to conduct autonomous and human-tended space, life and Earth science experiments at the Human-Tended Suborbital Science Workshop, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 in San Francisco.

Currently, only astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station are able to directly tend to science experiments in space. While today there are no opportunities to fly civilian scientists aboard commercial spacecraft to conduct micro-gravity experiments in futuristic laboratories, NASA officials expect the space industry will be able to provide suborbital space flights for scientists and their payloads within the next decade.

“NASA, together with the entrepreneurial space flight community, could forge a new paradigm for conducting science experiments at the edge of space,” said S. Pete Worden, director of NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., who will make a keynote address at the workshop. “I’m thrilled that Ames is leading this innovative and forward-thinking human spaceflight research initiative.”

As commercial spaceflight opportunities become available, NASA’s Headquarters will competitively secure flight service for scientists and their science experiment payloads. NASA’s Headquarters will work with NASA’s Ames to prepare, manage and implement the program. NASA’s Ames will work directly with the scientists and the space access providers while NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., will provide operations support for the flights.

WHO: NASA scientists and potential service providers, including:

– S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Center Director;
– John Karcz, lead scientist, Suborbital Science Project Office at NASA Ames;
– Yvonne Cagel, Suborbital Science Program Manager;
– Lisa Chu-Thielbar, Suborbital Science Project Manager.

WHEN: Monday, Dec. 15, 2008.

WHERE: The Westin San Francisco Market Street, 50 Third Street, San Francisco. Media interested in arranging interviews with workshop participants should contact Rachel Prucey at 650-930-6149.